Some of my favorites

Going to the city girls basketball game. Monica was playing. Eating a salad burger at Zips! Don't be a hatter Tiffany!!! Mmmmm......

Playing outside!!! You can see everything. Last night on my long drive, I could see every single star in the sky, I smelled the smell of dirt in the air, and a skunk that got hit by a car sometime. I love the country.

OUT THE DOOR IN 5...4...3...2...

WELL YA ALL. IT WAS NICE CHATTING AND ALL BUT I HAVE GOT A PLANE TO CATCH AND GO TO A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO END TO THE ROAD.
VACATION STARTS IN LIKE 5 HOURS!! YES.
BETH AND FAM

SACRAFICING THE CABLE TV

Just a thought...but isn't it good to know how the economy is doing BUT not get wr
apped up, obsessed about it? Yes, I know the economy is bad, we all know that, BUT how much is it effecting your life? Do you think if the economy was good that we would all be doing the same thing?
Do we have a savings? Not a very colorful one, but I know we are starting one now.
Am I afraid? Job wise, a little. But I really feel like mining in general isn't too bad. Sometimes I think I should be afraid but it's because I watch too much news.

SO, HERE GOES, THE BIG CHANGE....
AFTER 3 YEARS OF HAVING THE WHOLE DELUX CABLE PACKAGE, I FINALLY DOWN SIZED TO THE FIRST 19 CHANNELS. You know, the ones that have soap operas on during the day, daytime talk shows, and sesame street for in the mornings. Lets not all forget, Saturday morning cartoons. Do you remember when it was ONLY the 6 channels? I feel really good about this and it saves us 80.00 a month.

POSSIBLE DOWNFALL? My husband might not be very happy because he can't watch the outdoor channel. Yes, this is what has kept the cable on this long believe it or not...nothing else, just the outdoor channel.

Saturdays and activities

Saturday seems so busy lately...which reminds me I forgot about playgroup this Saturday,..but anyways, the kids have activities, however it is also the day for them to clean their room. The rooms got clean and everyone was having a good day.

At noon, we packed up in the car and went to Treys basketball game. This is a challenge for me: keeping the other 2 busy at the game and keeping them off the court.

ThIS GAME WAS A LITTLE SPECIAL. I wanted to take pictures so I asked a random grandma to hold Mattie for about 5 minutes. It worked out great and am working on good action shots. I think I need a new camera because I want my pictures to be better. Seriously...I want to do sport photography. I love the intensity and the skills put into sports...captureing it on film is even better.

So, Trey was a star stud in the game. I had the opportunity to be a proud mamma! It is an awesome feeling. I can't wait until baseball... as much as he likes it. He surprises me with how much skill he has. He was rebounding, making awesome shots, and was really on fire.

MY VACATION BACK HOME

So I have had a life changing momment...probably just temporary. For some reason, I really wanted a hair cut and chopped off all my hair. For a lot of reasons, I really like it and feel younger. Why would a 28 year old want to feel younger? Life was a lot simper when I was younger, thats for sure. But I also cared about what I looked like and lately, I really could care less. Honestly, I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE straight out of bed sometimes! There is something seriously wrong with me.

Since I am preparing for my family vacation, It is all I can think of. Seriously, you would think I was going to Italy or Hawaii how excited I am. But going back home!!! It brings back my childhood years and being around friends that you grew up with! My uncles, My sister and her wild bunch, and of course I always have to stop by Ravens cool house just to see what she has done to the place! And then Angie, she is so sweet and I love to make her laugh...because she always laughs at my corky jokes...

Then going to Arizona is always fun to me...who wouldn't like to show up somewhere where the sun is the first thing you see with never ending roads? We always go out on the ranch. Theres something beautiful and peaceful about it. Andy and I have had some of our best conversations on durt roads. The kids love to run!! I can't wait to beable to do it...you feel so alive!

So...yes I have a very personal connection to this vacation.

GLOBAL WARMING PROTEST

A FRIEND OF MINE SENT THIS PICTURE TO ME AND IT WAS SO FUNNY I HAD TO POST IT.
ALL WHO SHOWED UP FOR THE GLOBAL WARMING PROTEST.

TODAY: THE VIEW

I am not talking about the show. Today is a day to celebrate and show the love to your family. I didn't sleep well last night though. Andy is working night shift so I slept on the couch and let the dog sleep inside. Well, the dog was farting all night and the smell doesn't just go away either. (I should have just gotten up and went to my room). And then around 3am Mattie woke up and ran down the hall in the dark. So, I layed her down next to me and needless to say, I was between a rock and a hard place. Fun Fun.

Anyway, I took these picts while running my errands the other day. These are all my shopping stops. Enjoy the errands with me...and the view.

The kids, Morgan and Mattie fell asleep...

The view of my street. My house is the brown one tucked in behind the tree.
The view of downtown Juneau, AK. This is definately a tourist trap! In the winter, it is a ghost town and none of these shops are open.

Further up the road is the capital building and the governors mansion (Sarah Palin).

The view from Walmart...were I do a lot of our shopping besides grocery. Here you will find Ravens on every post waiting for someone to drop food. They are really annoying birds and pray on peoples groceries. People have put food in the back of their vehicles and left for a minute to come back and find their groceries gone! They literally can carry bags of groceries away.

Along our way, we made a quick stop at McDonalds drive thru for a happy meal. I took this picture because of the cool ice cicles.

The view from the Safeway Gas Station. There is beauty all around...

THE PRIZE WINNER

I drew names tonight. I picked names until there was one left which is the one sitting on the table. 2nd pick is the one on the top of the pile.

And the winner is:



CONGRATULATIONS TIFFANY MURRY:

I BELIEVE I HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT. MY PASSION IS PHOTOGRAPHY AND THIS GIVE AWAY IS A SPECIAL TOKEN BECAUSE YOU WILL GET A 16X20 CANVAS PHOTO OF A POD OF HUMPBACK WHALES THAT I CAUGHT WITH MY CAMERA. 2nd place is: CONGRATULATIONS BROOKE!

I love to cook and the alaskan ulu has to be by far the most used thing in my home. I use it to cut up my childrens food for everything! If anything else, it could be used as a pretty cool weapon. Man, Alaska is great. Making things for multiple perposes! I have a package of smoked salmon to go along with it!!!Mmmmm......goood.......

I want to thank everyone for participating in my big give away. I loved reading about what you would do if you came to Alaska. Alaska is a very special place and full of adventures.

In appreciation of Alaska, I would like to tell you some of my favorites.

1. Seeing all the millions of Bald Eagles. It is so magestic when you look up in the sky and in the distance are 3-4 Bald Eagles sauring above.

2. SeaLions and Whales. They are every where when you go out on the water. One year during the King Salmon run, there was a humpback whale that was swimming right next to the shore. It was amazing and it never gets old. The sealions love to play and are the cutest things.

3. Hikeing. In the summer, going on trails through the most beautiful, clean, forest and all you hear is the water running by in the streams.

4.Catching Halibut and big game. This is something I think everyone should do, Just once. You don't realize how big these fish actually are.

I hope you all continue to view our blog. I thank you all for your support and friendship.

SWEETHEART TAG

About 3 weeks ago, my sister ASHLEIGH Tagged me with this sweetheart tag and maybe she will thank me, maybe she will regret it. I mean. do you really want to know how Andy and I met and fell in love and now have 3 kids?

CITY GIRL FROM WASHINGTON falls in love with COWBOY FROM BAGDAD? Do you want the truth? Or do you want the fairy tale version where we ride off into the sunset...but keep driving until we can't go any further because we are bound for Alaska?

1.WHERE DID YOU FIRST MEET YOUR SWEETHEART?
First, I have to explain. I moved to a town called Spring Creek, Nevada where I knew no one. The 3 things that keep this town running is Casinos, Ranches, and Mining.There wasn't any jobs in television in this small country town, so what is a girl to do? After a couple of months, I got a call from a lady at church and she was interviewing for Underground Dispatchers at this company called Newmont Gold...a mining company. My job was to sit in an office all day and talk to men...and log all the activity done underground by the miners.

So, the first time I met Andy...lets see...I was constantly being harassed by about 30 miners that there was this single guy on the crew. Me, being a young blond around 30 miners...it was bound to happen. So,my first time meeting the crew, I went around the room and introduced myself, like any new person would do.
WHEN I GOT TO ANDY...to shake his hand, he was very polite with a cute smile on his face. I had no idea that all the guys were going to give him a hard time over it. And it didn't stop there. For weeks, every time he walked into the room there was constant snickering...you see, Andy hadn't had very many girlfriends, ever. And these guys were going to set him up on a date with the dispatcher.

2. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT HIM?

I remember the crew loved to give him a hard time about me. The first time I realized who he was, was the first time I went underground. We rode this tractor into the dark tunnel and came to this heading where 2 miners were working in this musty, muddy, hole. They were running this jackleg installing ground support and happen to have the bolt stuck. So this guy running the equipment was jumping on it, trying to get it down, but he looked like he was smaller than the bolt...but very strong. Come to find out, that was my Andy...very embarrassed that 8 women showed up to watch him try to undo the bolt.

3.WHO ASKED WHO OUT FIRST?
ONE DAY, WE ALL LOADED UP ON THIS OLD SCHOOL BUS THAT HAD BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THE MINERS AND BARELY RAN. IT WAS SO DIRTY AND THE MAN DRIVING THE BUS WAS IN HIS 60'S AND ALWAYS CALLED ME HIS SUGAR MOMMA. But, this day in particular, the bus was loaded and I was in the front seat with the boss. You see, he was my protector, but he was in on it too. There was a loud uproar behind me of grown men laughing and spitting chew on the ground.

I turn around to see what all the ruckus is about and I see grown men pushing Andy to the front of the bus as he is fighting back with all his strength. He was so skinny.Then, the biggest guy on the crew (weighed about 240pds and tall)picks Andy up, carrys him all the way to the front of the bus,and sits him in the seat directly beside me.

He looks at me and says "WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?...."I look back and there are about 60 eyes on me waiting for my response. He says "PLEASE! DON'T SAY NO..."A complete plea. It was sooo funny, but I said I yes.

When we got to the lineout trailer, the boss started the meeting with the anouncement that Andy finally popped the question...

4.WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR FIRST DATE?

We got off of work around 6 and went to dinner at 8. After driving around trying to decide, we ended up at a casino restaurant. Not the best food, but me being such a talker, didn't stop talking. It was so easy to talk to him, I don't know why. Andy was so polite and shy...which I found very cute.
After a nice dinner, I thought we should just go somewhere and RELAX. At this point of a long shift, that was all I wanted to do. I thought we could just go back to his little apartment and watch some TV.
THIS IS THE PART WHERE I SHOULD HAVE RAN. As we got to his front door, nerves weren't what was bothering me, it was what was behind the door. Probably a years worth of garbage completely filled his apartment! I thought, Is this a typical bachelor? But, instead of running, I told him to grab as many garbage bags as possible and lets fill them up...so that we could sit on the couch. SO, THAT IS HOW HE FELL IN LOVE WITH ME. I didn't run but instead, I conquered!


5.WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO TOGETHER?
COOK FOOD, GO ON DRIVES, HANG OUT AT HIS APARTMENT AND WATCH MOVIES. WE THEN HUNG OUT AT MY APARTMENT WHEN HIS APARTMENT WAS UNBEARABLE

6.WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST KISS?
After our second date actually! Andy went to Colorado on a turkey hunt and came back 3 days early without a turkey, just to see me. Little did I know what a HUGE sacrifice this was. His sister actually cleaned his apartment while he was gone (she couldn't believe I stayed either). So our second date, we went to the store and I was going to cook him dinner. I soon realized he loved to cook, which was so cool. We cooked together and watched a movie. I really started to like him after that night and stayed up talking until 2am. He drove me home and walked me to the back door and kissed me goodnight. THIS WAS THE START OF OUR LONG RELATIONSHIP.

7.WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE YOU LOVED HIM?
I didn't realize that I really loved him until I realized he was my best friend. He was so important to me in the small little mining town and he treated me like gold. I remember being so mean to him sometimes because he ALWAYS wanted to hold my hand at work! But, he never was rude to me and still was there for me.

-I also realized I loved him when my family loved him. He brought me on a road trip with him to visit all his family in Arizona. I had never been to Arizona so he spoiled me. We went to:

Sadona, Arizona

And then took a plane ride over the Grand Canyon!! It was the best trip ever.

8.WHO SAID IT (I LOVE YOU) FIRST?
Andy did. He always told me he loved me....It was right before we went to visit his family that I finally told him that I loved him. I wonder if he remembers that....

9.HOW DID HE PROPOSE?
He proposed on February 14, 2003...the same day Ashleigh got proposed to. We were in the Tri-Cities, WA visiting family and friends this day. We drove all down Kennewick Blvd and Columbia Center Blvd trying to find a restaurant to eat at and the lines were out the door and around the corner. Sometimes when all you want to do is eat, you don't want to stand in the lines. So we ended up at this more local Thai Restaurant down on Clearwater. The food wasn't that great and Andy was sweating bullets...I thought it was because he was in the city. He excused himself from the table to use the bathroom...and he was gone for like 10 minutes!

We really didn't have much time to eat because we were going to a hockey game also that night. So, I got our food to go and we boogied out of the restaurant. It was still really chilly, so I was running and jumped in the truck as fast as I could.

BUT THERE...sitting in the middle of the front seat of the truck was a dozen roses and a bear. On the card to the roses it said "I LOVE YOU. LOOK AT THE BEAR"
SO, I LOOKED AT THE BEAR AND THERE WAS A RING IN ITS ARMS. I sat there looking at it...looking at him...looking at the ring....waiting for a speech....but nothing. So, he says "SO?!?..." and I said "so?" (It definitely was a little weird because he was so nervous and didn't want to say it) I finally just said yes I will marry you and was in complete shock and awe for the rest of the night...I felt like I was walking on clouds with a permanent smile on my face.

10.WHAT ARE 2 THINGS YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT YOUR WEDDING DAY?

I remember the sun was shining and it was a beautiful evening when it had been raining the whole week before.


I remember all the hard work into everything. Andys family did all the decorations and my family did all the food. It was soooo beautiful!

I tag: RAVEN SMITH AND RACHAEL PHELPS

SNACK FOR LATER

FUNNIEST THING TODAY--I just have to tell ya all about it.

Mattie...I sat her down with her plate of dinner tonight which consisted of green beans and MOMS homemade mac/cheese (It's good folks). As most moms, your doing 5 things all at once right like cleaning up dishes or putting toys away before your going to fall. I peek over my shoulder and Matties food was gone! I was shocked because it had only been like 3 minutes.

SO I WALKED OVER TO HER and checked the floor....but no, nothing there either. I went and grabbed her plate and thought...ok, I guess she will want more. I put more of both on her plate and went to bring it to her and then I saw it...

SHE STUFFED ALL HER FOOD IN HER COAT POCKET! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!

THINKING OF PAPA TROY

PAPA TROY IS SUCH A GREAT MAN. HE IS ANDYS GRANDFATHER THAT LIVES IN BAGDAD ARIZONA. JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON HIM (FROM WHAT I KNOW):

HE WAS A MINE FORMAN FOR YEARS IN BAGDAD, AZ. HE ALSO OWNED/RAN THE SANITIZATION COMPANY AND RANCHED. YOU CAN SAY, HE IS ALWAYS WORKING. NOW, HE IS RETIRED BUT YOU DON'T SEE HIM SITTING AROUND MUCH.

I HOPE I HAVE THAT MUCH ENERGY AS I GET UP TO HIS AGE.

EVERYTIME I TALK TO HIM, HE IS STILL MAKING MANY TRIPS OUT TO THE RANCH OR FIXING SOMETHING. HE STILL HUNTS JUST AS HARD AS ANYONE...HE JUST CANT WALK AS MUCH.

ON THE 17TH, HE GOES IN FOR BACK SURGERY. THE DOCTOR SAYS HE WILL BEABLE TO RIDE HORSES AGAIN AFTER THE SURGERY...AND I'M SURE IF HE CAN, HE WILL. I PRAY EVERYTHING GOES WELL FOR HIM.

GIVE-AWAY

TESTING...TESTING...ONE, TWO, THREE? IS ANYONE OUT THERE? CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME?


I HAVE JUMPED IN AND NOW I AM A TRUE BLOGGER. YES, I AM HAVING A GIVE AWAY...IS EVERYONE EXCITED? IF YOU KNOW ME, IF I SAY I AM GIVING SOMETHING AWAY, IT IS GOING TO BE GOOD...YOU ARE ALL IN FOR A TREAT.

I AM JUST WARMING UP, GETTING EVERYONE EXCITED....

YOU WILL ENJOY THIS GIVE AWAY AND IT WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE TASTE OF ALASKA...

RULES:

All you have to do is leave a comment and answer this question.

What would you want to do if you came to Juneau, AK? (Some of you are already here, so just tell me where else you would be if you weren't here. I'm with ya, I would be where there is sunshine and stars at night)

Leave your email address and I will anounce the winner WEDNESDAY night by 10PM ALASKA time. You will really enjoy the Give away...lets just say, it has Alaska written all over it.

GOOD LUCK.

TREY TURNS ANOTHER CORNER

MY SWEET BOY TURNS 9 TODAY.
WHY IS TREY SO SPECIAL IN MY LIFE:

HE HAS A TENDER HEART-I REALLY NOTICED THIS LATELY. ONE TIME, SOMEONE WAS SAD AND TREY WAS SO CONCERNED AND WANTED TO HELP THEM FEEL BETTER. SO,HE WENT OVER TO THEM AND TRIED TO MAKE THEM LAUGH.

HE IS A GOOD WORKER-IF HE SEES THAT I COULD USE A HAND AT SOMETHING, HE IS THE FIRST TO JUMP AND OFFER HIS ASSISTANCE. HE DOES A GOOD JOB WHATEVER THE TASK IS. LATELY, HIS JOB IS TO SHOVEL THE DRIVEWAY. HE JUMPS RIGHT INTO IT AND GETS IT DONE.

SPIRITUALLY-HE HAS A GREAT DESIRE TO LOVE. HE LOVES GOING TO CHURCH. EVERY SUNDAY MORNING I WAKE UP AND THERE HE IS...SITTING IN HIS CHURCH CLOTHES ALL READY TO GO.

ACTIVE-HE IS A VERY ACTIVE BOY AND LIKES TO PLAY OUTSIDE, FISH, AND PLAY SPORTS. I LOVE THAT HE WANTS TO LEARN WHATEVER IS THROWN AT HIM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TREY! I LOVE YOU...XOXO

INTERESTING FINDS WALKING DOWN MEMORY LANE

I love walking down memory lane! I remember the feelings and the good times mostly. But I also realize how fast time flys! Take a look and enjoy the trip.

2003-In the Mountains outside of Elko,Nevada. Lexi, Haylee, Jeff, and Andy

2004- Our wonderful Wedding in Lamoille, Nevada!

October 2004-Trip to Washington DC for the 1st time

2005-Spring Turkey Hunt in Colorado. It was a cold spring!!!

2005 SUMMER LLOYD FAMILY REUNION
THE COUSINS HAD A MUD FIGHTVISITING YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON THE ROAD TO WHYOMING ABOUT 30 MILES OUTSIDE OF REXBURG, IDAHO...IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE

SUMMER 2006-Hershey, PA and visit with Mom and Dad. Lot's of Sunshine and fun.

July 2006-On the Road to Alaska! Our long 4 day adventure on a durt road with nothing but wildlife and trees surrounding us!
Summer of 2007-The best fishing year! Lots of Family came to visit us. I miss family!
2007- Saw the best Whale show of my life about 15 feet away from our boat. 10 Humpback whales breached over and over again over a 45 minute period.

2008-Mine Rescue National Tournament Reno, NV. My second honeymoon with just Andy and I. I enjoyed this trip more than my first honeymoon. His first-aid team took 2nd in the Nation.